From Empty to Filled

with Wendy Palau

As human beings, we are so needy. We need constant support, love, acknowledgment—we need kindness. And there is a sense that there’s not enough. There is no husband or wife, no boyfriend or girlfriend, no job, no accomplishment, no wealth, no recognition that will truly fill the deepest places in a person's soul. Even when we have all those things, they don’t make our hearts feel whole.

As believers, we know we can go to a better source. We can come to God with our emptiness, our burdens, our requests. We can come with our fear or anxiety or worry or challenge. We give it over to Him and He exchanges it for His peace and hope. That’s one of the many benefits of being a personal friend of the Living God.

But what if we didn’t have that relationship? How would that feel? We could be consumed by that empty longing that nothing seems to fill. Without God, we might wonder, “If there’s nothing that can bring satisfaction, what’s the point of living?” Who in your life feels empty and needs to know the peace and fulfillment of Jesus? Will you take a moment right now and let the Lord put someone on your heart? I want you to keep that person in mind as you continue to read.

That person God is putting on your heart—they know—emptiness does not feel right. And it’s not right! It is not the way they were created to live in the world. Because all of us were created to be filled and satisfied by the one who created us—God! And He, the very one who made us all, knows exactly what we all need. Your friend won’t find perfect fulfillment on earth. But they can know this hope if you’re willing to share it:

One day—one beautiful day, they can experience perfect fullness in Christ in Heaven. The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:13 says that we can look forward to the New Heavens and the New Earth He has promised—a world filled with God’s rightness. Isn’t that amazing? All our needs to be loved, to be wanted, to belong—they will be filled to overflowing! We can’t wait for that day!

But is there anything that can bring your friend wholeness here and now? Listen to the words of this beautiful prayer from Psalm 90:

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, Lord, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

Day by day, we can be satisfied in Him. This is our hope, and it’s the only hope that can bring satisfaction on earth.

This is how God feels about you—and about your friend! I believe this is what He would say to your friend today:

I love you.

I created you.

Something better is coming.

I want to fill you with My Spirit and satisfy your deepest longings.

When we enter a relationship with Jesus—an intimate relationship with the Living God, we can know Him. Not the way we know facts and information, but the way we know our closest friends, our brothers, and sisters, our parents, our spouses—even closer than that!

The Bible tells us in Romans 5:11 that we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because Jesus has made us friends of God.

And again, in the book of Hebrews, we are told that we—the ones Jesus has made holy—and the One who makes us holy have the same Father. So Jesus isn’t ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. How incredible is that?

God welcomed you into this relationship, and He wants to welcome your friend, too. Friendship with God is not like anything we can experience here on Earth. It brings us fulfillment that is literally out of this world. The love we receive from Jesus is like heaven coming down to meet us. You can share it!

Let your friend know that they can be filled with the love of Jesus, and find lasting fulfillment. Start a conversation today, and see what God will do!

Will you pray with me?

Lord, nothing on this Earth satisfies the deep longings of our souls. We know You put this hunger in us because You are the one we need. We want everyone we know to be filled and made whole by You, God. Lord, one day we will see You face to face, and we want to bring all our friends with us. Help us tell them about how You satisfy us with Your unfailing love. Amen.